The Blackboard Spotlight: L.A. Hip-Hop Artist Dough The Freshkid
The state of hip-hop is no different from the atmosphere at an airport terminal. Day by day, new artists constantly come and go. Only a handful of artists come with the type of baggage that'll hold weight within the industry. L.A. occupant Dough The Freshkid is ready to show hip-hop fans why his music is destined to land on board.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Latest Mixtape: "No More Dreams: Tuxedos & Champagne" hosted by DJ Xtreme (datpiff.com)
EMGWorld: How strong would you say your connection is with your hometown fan base?
Dough The Freshkid: L.A. is so big, but I know there's so many people that have heard of me. Everybody wants to be rappers or entertainers out here so there's definitely a lot of competition. I definitely have a lot of supporters out here in LA.
EMGWorld: What would you say really sparked your love for music?
DTF: I was always listening to music, thanks to my older brother. He was always playing ol' school music like Slick Rick, EPMD and all kinds of stuff like that. I automatically loved the feeling I got when I heard that music. That's really how I developed my love for it.
EMGWorld: What gave you that inspiration to pick up the microphone for the first time?
DTF: What really got me started was a friend of mine who assumed I just knew how to rap. He was like, "Yo write me a rap so I can do sumthin' in the talent show." I had never wrote a verse before in my life. I went into a room with a pen, pad and just wrote something. He loved the verse and everyone in the talent show loved it too.
EMGWorld: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
DTF: Of course Slick Rick and Nas because I'm a story-teller like them. Ice Cube was another great story-teller. The late greats Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac. I learned alot from listening to Jay-Z and just his whole swag. The hip-hop groups De La Soul and Pharcyde were huge to me. Without question all of these artists influenced me.
EMGWorld: What would you say you’re bringing to hip-hop that other mainstream artists aren’t?
DTF: That's a good question. Everything in hip-hop is pretty much recycled or repeated in a different way. What I'm bringing back to hip-hop is that storytelling element, meaning that when you hear my music you can see a picture. It's been done before of course by Nas, Slick Rick and Notorious B.I.G.
EMGWorld: Most artists today are enjoying success off of catchy club bangers. You don't see yourself following that same trend?
DTF: I tried to do the ratchet and club music, but it's hard for me to do that because it's too easy to make. It's like everyone is jumping into the same boat. I don't want to fall into that trap of making a song about strippers over the everyday 808 drum and clap. I want to set myself aside and be as different as possible. I want to do the music that artists are scared to do because they think people won't accept them. I try to come straight from the soul and tell stories about where I've been and where I'm trying to go.
EMGWorld: What radio stations have shown love to your music?
DTF: Are you kidding? It's damn near impossible! In L.A. it's difficult to get your music on air without having PAYOLA or some major label paying for you. They have a few contests where you might get one spin on one day. I have a lot of internet radio stations supporting my music, but the major stations like Power 106 and 93.5 KDay show no love at all. I know people at the radio stations and they'll tell me "your music needs to go on the radio but you have to pay us."
EMGWorld: Have any major labels taken notice of the movement you’ve created off of your mixtape releases?
DTF: Honestly, I haven't shopped anything. I've just been working on creating my music. I had a look from one label, but the stuff they were talking was straight foolish. It was not going to work in my favor at all. Besides that I haven't heard anything from any other major labels.
DTF: Honestly, I haven't shopped anything. I've just been working on creating my music. I had a look from one label, but the stuff they were talking was straight foolish. It was not going to work in my favor at all. Besides that I haven't heard anything from any other major labels.
EMGWorld: Why did you name your latest mixtape 'No More Dreams?'
DTF: My first official mixtape was 'Million Dollar Dreams' released in '09. It received good reviews. I just wanted to continue that theme. My music is a story and 'No More Dreams' is apart of that series. I didn't want to call this one 'Million Dollar Dreams Vol. 2' because I'm not dreaming anymore. I'm putting things in pursuit and pushing forward. I'm making things happen. The metaphor behind the title is "f**k the dreaming."
EMGWorld: What does EPC stand for?
DTF: Every Penny Counts. It was something I thought about early. No disrespect to Rick Ross and a lot of others, but they're blowing money fast. I can't do it. Every penny counts man. I kinda got that idea from 50 Cent. I was sitting at the movies watching Get Rich or Die Trying. 50 was a hustler on the street, but he still collected pennies in a penny jar. I was like, "yeah every penny does count."
EMGWorld: Your lyrics are consistently supported by incredible productions. What gives you that ability to select such superior beats to record over?
DTF: Battle Cat, who works with Snoop, told me I had a great ear for music. Sometimes I hear certain songs from other artists and think, "Why did they choose that beat?" Songs on the radio will grow on you [only] because you hear it so much. The music I choose has to fit my layout.
EMGWorld: Who is your production team?
DTF: There's a few cats I deal with. A lot of producers will hear my sound and want to work with me. If their good then I'll give them a chance and connect with them. I mess with Flawless, who produced for Wale. The TrackPros, Bryce Wonder, Phenob, Kemist, TrackTeam and M3 are within my production circle. Those producers are my home base.
EMGWorld: How can producers out there send beats to you?
DTF: I hear from different producers that send me tracks to my e-mail. If you got fire you can send it to my e-mail because I'm always looking for new producers. My e-mail is epcincorp1@gmail.com.
EMGWorld: Very few acts are able to make noise in a major way without having a co-signer. Dr. Dre co-signed for Eminem. Jay-Z co-signed for J. Cole. How does this affect your grind as an independent artist?
DTF: You're right. Having a co-signer works miracles for alot of artists out there. Getting that stamp of approval from major artists gets you those 'bandwagon jumpers.' You get those extra fans. Not having that co-signer means you have to prove yourself in every way. You have to fight more to put yourself in that position. You can't force anyone to listen to your music, but you do have to put it in front of them. When they give me a chance they're going to hear good music.
EMGWorld: What shows or venues have you performed at for people to take notice of your movement?
DTF: I've done shows all over from the Roxy to the hole in the wall clubs. I can name a hundred artists I've opened up for. The last one that really helped me was in Brooklyn when I opened up for Too Short at the Hit Factory. It was amazing to see the reaction from the fans. Me and my team [Push] throw up the timeout sign like they do in the NBA. I threw up a timeout sign on stage and the crowd threw it up too. Seeing that was overwhelming. That show did a lot for me.
EMGWorld: What’s the most important key to remember when you’re performing at a show?
DTF: I’d say to make sure you bring that fan base back home with you. A lot of people might come to a show drunk and by the time they get back home they've forgotten who they were listening to. You have to make sure you get your brand out there. Whether it's giving out a CD, T-Shirt or yelling for them to follow you on twitter and facebook, make sure they're following the movement.
EMGWorld: Have you reached out to other indie artists to do any collaborating?
DTF: I've reached out to a few artists, but sometimes artists think there too good to work with you if they have just a lil bit more buzz than you. I've done so much for other artists to help them out, but I don't get that same love in return where they'll help me. It's weird how some of these dudes are.
EMGWorld: How can EMGWorld fans stay connected to your movement?
DTF: Fans can stay connected with me on twitter @ DoughFreshkid or subscribe to my page on facebook at facebook.com/DoughtheFreshkid. I'm on YouTube and WorldStarHipHop.com. They can also download my mixtapes on datpiff.com.
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